Dunwoody's sewer is run by DeKalb County, but the drain pipes inside and under a house are the owner's, and that is where most backups start. A plumber can clear the line and tell you whether the pipe itself is the problem. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Dunwoody.
Dunwoody has one of the older housing stocks in the northern suburbs: census survey data show about 44% of homes built before 1980, with the 1970s alone accounting for roughly 28%. Many of those split-levels and ranches around Dunwoody Village still have cast iron drains, and some have clay or cast iron running out under the yard. The city doesn't run sewer; DeKalb County Watershed Management does. That leaves the fixtures, branch drains and building sewer to the homeowner, and in houses this age those pipes have had five decades to collect scale, grease and roots. When a backup hits, a calm first ten minutes limits the cleanup.
Steps to take right away
- Turn off the flow. Stop the washer and dishwasher and ask everyone to hold off on flushing.
- Find the lowest drain. A basement or lower-level shower or floor drain that's filling usually means the main line.
- Check the street. Sewage spilling from a manhole goes to DeKalb's 24-hour emergency repair line, 770-270-6243.
- Locate the cleanout. On many Dunwoody homes it's near the foundation or in the lower level. Leave the cap on if water is pressing against it.
- Clear the area. Pull rugs and boxes away from the lower-level drains.
Symptoms and what they usually mean
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Lower-level shower fills when an upstairs toilet flushes | Main building drain blocked |
| Kitchen sink slow for weeks | Grease and food buildup in the kitchen branch |
| Rust flakes come back on the cable | Scaling inside old cast iron pipe |
| Clogs return on a seasonal cycle | Roots entering joints under the yard |
| Toilet bubbles when the tub drains | Partial main line clog or a blocked vent |
What goes into the price
- How far the blockage is from an access point
- Whether the cleanout is outdoors and usable
- Cable, jetting and camera work, which may be billed separately
- Pipe repair if the camera finds a break or a collapsed section
- After-hours or weekend scheduling
Dunwoody puts stand-alone plumbing repairs under its single-trade component permits, and work can't begin until the permit is issued. That applies when piping is repaired or replaced, not to a routine clearing.
Drain Cleaning questions in Dunwoody
Why do drains in older homes clog more often?
Does clearing a clogged drain require a permit?
Can tree roots get into a sewer line?
Does a backwater valve help prevent sewer backups?
More plumbing services in Dunwoody
Drain Cleaning nearby
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